G/SPS/N/GBR/30/Add.5  
24 April 2024  
(24-3369) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on 23 April 2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of  the United Kingdom . 
 
_______________  
 
 
United Kingdom Border Target Operating Model  – Implementation of the April Milestone  
In August 2023, the United Kingdom (UK) notified the WTO SPS Committee of the publication of the 
final version of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM)  [G/SPS/N/GBR/30/Add.2 ] that set out the 
new Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regime for Great Britain (GB). The measures contained in the 
BTOM apply to imports of live animals, germinal products, animal products, pla nts and plant products 
and high-risk food of non -animal origin into Great Britain and set out the timeline for implementation 
from January 2024 onwards.  
As set out in the BTOM, the UK government will be implementing legislation in two Statutory 
Instruments (SIs) to deliver the second stage of the BTOM from 30 April 2024. Full details of the 
legislation can be found via the following links: The Official Controls (Miscellaneous Amendments) 
Regulations 2024 ; and The Official Control s (Extension of Transitional Periods) (Amendment) 
Regulations 2024 . 
• Documentary, physical and identity checks are being introduced for medium and high-risk animal 
products imported into Great Britain from the European Uni on (EU) and European Free Trade 
Agreement (EFTA) countries (excluding those goods being imported from Ireland). The  frequency 
of identity and physical checks on animal products will be aligned with the new global risk -
categorisation model as outlined in th e BTOM.  
• For plants and plant products, physical and identity checks of goods from the E uropean  Union, 
Switzerland and Liechtenstein move to Border Control Posts (BCPs) and Control Points (CPs). 
Medium and high -risk plants and plant products from the E urope an Union must come through a 
point of entry with the relevant BCP (list of relevant BCPs are here). Inspections of high -risk 
plants/plant products from the European Union will move from Points of Destination (PoDs) to 
BCPs and CPs.  
• The simplification of some import requirements from non -EU countries will also c ommence. 
This will include the removal of routine checks on low -risk animal products, plants, plant products 
from EU and non -EU countries; the reduction in physical and identity check levels on medium -
risk animal products from non -EU countries; the removal  of the default deep freezing condition 
for meat preparations from legislation, enabling this to be managed by health certification from 
30 April 2024: Import food and drink from the EU to Great Britain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . 
The list of re -categorised plants and plant products from third countries can be fo und here.[1] 
• For a three -month period from 30 April 2024, a temporary easement will enable the full 
requirements of a documentary check to be satisfied when a scanned copy of an original Export 
Health Certificate (EHC) or Phytosanitary certificate (PC) is provided in a n importer's 
prenotification. Where a scanned copy is provided, the original EHC or PC should be provided to 
competent authorities within five (EHC) or three (PC) business days of a consignment's arrival. 
The temporary easement will only apply to EHCs for animal products and by products from the G/SPS/N/GBR/30/Add.5  
 
- 2 - 
 
  European Union – and to PCs for plants and plant products from the E uropean Union, 
Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Noting the easement's time limited nature, importers should 
continue to adopt fully digitised certif ication as soon as possible to reduce the requirement to 
undergo in person documentary checks at the border, following the easement's expiry.  
[1] Part A of Annex 11 lists high - and medium -risk p lant goods posing a known threat, that require a phytosanitary 
certificate and are subject to 100% checks on import (except where reduced checks are applied). Part B of 
Annex  11 lists those medium -risk goods that require a phytosanitary certificate, as the y pose a potential threat, 
but with insufficient evidence currently to categorise in Part A or Part  C of Annex 11. Part C of Annex 11 includes 
a list of low -risk plant products which are not subject to plant health controls, such as fruits of banana and 
pineapple.  
This addendum concerns a:  
[ ] Modification of final date for comments  
[X] Notification of adoption, publication or entry into force of regulation  
[ ] Modification of content and/or scope of previously notified draft regulation  
[ ] Withdrawal of proposed regulation  
[ ] Change in proposed date of adoption, publication or date of entry into force  
[ ] Other:  
Comment period: (If the addendum extends the scope of the previously notified measure 
in terms of products and/or potentially affected Members, a new deadline for receipt of 
comments should be provided, normally of at least 60 calendar days. Under other 
circumstances, such as extension of originally announced final date for comments, the 
comment period provided in the  addendum may vary.)  
[ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the addendum to the notification and/or 
(dd/mm/yy) : Not applicable  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification Authority, 
[X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other 
body:  
UK WTO SPS National Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs  
Seacole Building  
2 Marsham St  
London SW1P 4DF  
E-mail: uksps@defra.gov.uk  
Website:  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/depar tment -for-environment -food-rural-
affairs  
Text(s) available from: [ X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. 
Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:  
UK WTO SPS National Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs  
Seacole Building  
2 Marsham St  
London SW1P 4DF  
E-mail: uksps@defra.gov.uk  
Website:  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department -for-environment -food-rural-
affairs  
 
__________